Bill > A726

Introduced Session

This bill extends pension eligibility to the widow, children, or parent of any volunteer firefighter, first aid worker or rescue squad worker, or emergency medical technician who contracted COVID-19 during the public health emergency in this State declared by the Governor on March 9, 2020. Under current law, if any volunteer firefighter, first aid worker, rescue squad worker, or emergency medical technician has died as the result of injuries sustained in the course of performance of duty as a member of the volunteer fire company or first aid or rescue squad on or after January 1, 2000, the widow or children or parent of the volunteer is eligible for a survivor's pension. The pension is $15,000 per year, and $10,000 or $5,000 depending on the survivor's relationship to the deceased. Once approved by the municipality, the pension will be payable by the State. Under this bill, for a survivor's pension, the death of a volunteer attributable to COVID-19, complications therefrom, or the aggravation or acceleration of a preexisting condition caused thereby will be deemed to have occurred as the result of injuries sustained in the course of performance of duty as a volunteer if: the volunteer contracted COVID-19 and the volunteer's death occurred after receiving a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 during the public health emergency; the volunteer died as a result of COVID-19; and the volunteer's regular or assigned duties required the volunteer to interact, and the volunteer so interacted, with the public or to directly supervise other personnel so interacting with the public on any date during the public health emergency and within 14 calendar days prior to the appearance of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 that were confirmed in writing by a licensed health care provider on a form approved by the board of trustees and also confirmed by a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2. An eligible beneficiary of a volunteer who died during the public health emergency may apply for a survivor's pension pursuant to this bill. If approved by the governing body of the municipality, the survivor's pension will be retroactive to the first calendar year after the year of the volunteer's death.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Margie Donlon (D)*,  Paul Kanitra (R)*,  Greg McGuckin (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document